I mentioned previously the Blessed is She retreat that took place last weekend in Emmaus Centre, Swords.
I'd several friends attending but I couldn't get tickets. Here's the thing with conferences and retreats. On day one there's a big desk, and everyone wants you to sign in and you're given a booklet and a badge and it's kinda formal. Day two most people have lost or abandoned the badges and you can just walk in. So I attended part of the second day. It was a very good experience. The church in Ireland has been buffeted probably more than any country in recent years. Years of mediocre and rather wet bishops, endless abuse crises, reports, child protection programmes, Garda vetting, Magdalene laundries, Tuam babies, Casey, all of it. But the big blow was the abortion referendum, two thirds of our mostly Catholic people voting for wholesale abortion on demand, while politicians from all parties either actively promoted it or hid, along with some bishops. So coming together with 250 women to find love and support, to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, to paint, to chat, to feed babies and help other mothers, to receive unambiguous Catholic teaching was very special. The Archbishop of Dublin came along to say Mass, and many of us were not hopeful. A number of women said in conversation that their efforts as Catholic teachers, or parents, or in Catholic hospitals, Catholic charities, are routinely undermined, if not attacked, by Catholic management, priests and bishops. "When LGBT stuff comes in from the union I try and find it and throw it the bin quickly because there is no point trying to discuss it with school management." Anyway, Diarmuid Martin on the day was ok. He preached about the kingship of Christ, even though he said his secretary told him "you can't talk about to a bunch of women". Funny, not funny, as it shows the attitude that orthodox Catholics face, the assumption that a "bunch of women" would be offended by the kingship of Christ, as if we had never seen the beauty of the kingly Christ, never read St Teresa of Jesus or St Catherine talking intimately to the kingly Christ. It was a good day. We need many more.
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Anastasia ZelatorMother of four children, I do some writing and teaching. Want to be part of Mary's heel that will crush the serpent. ArchivesCategories |